Swimmer Jorge Iván del Valle Makes History by Completing the Lake Tahoe Triple Crown

Vallecaucano athlete Jorge Iván del Valle became the second Latin American and the 31st person in the world to complete the Lake Tahoe Triple Crown™ in the United States. The swimmer from Tuluá covered 70.3 kilometers in a cumulative time of 21 hours and 31 minutes of actual swim time under extreme altitude and temperature conditions.

The Lake Tahoe Triple Crown requires completing three independent crossings in North America’s largest alpine lake, located at 1,900 meters above sea level between California and Nevada. This elevation reduces oxygen availability and adds to the low temperatures of the deep waters.

To obtain official certification, Jorge Iván del Valle logged the following times across the three regulation distances:

• Length (34.3 km): July 14, 2024 – 11 hours and 10 minutes.
• True Width (19 km): July 10, 2026 – 5 hours and 44 minutes.
• Vikingsholm (17 km): July 24, 2026 – 4 hours and 33 minutes.

Mental strength at the elite level of endurance sports

Facing long-distance courses at nearly 2,000 meters of altitude requires rigorous physical preparation and the ability to adapt to harsh natural environments. After receiving official circuit certification, the athlete highlighted the demanding nature of the challenge:

“Swimming at nearly 2,000 meters of altitude, in deep waters and low temperatures, requires rigorous physical preparation and immense mental strength. Representing Colombia on this stage and being part of the history of this challenge is an honor I will carry with me forever.”

Colombia’s profile in open water swimming

The achievement of the swimmer from Tuluá solidifies the country’s presence in international ultra-distance circuits and positions national athletic talent on highly demanding global stages. Conquering all three Lake Tahoe routes sets a new performance benchmark for Colombian endurance specialists.